Tensions between the US and Venezuela have reached a seemingly critical level over what the US administration ostensibly calls its war against narco-terrorism. Earlier, US President Donald Trump squarely blamed Venezuela for smuggling into the country fentanyl, synthetic opioid, even though Venezuela does not even produce it. The US has already expanded its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and is reportedly planning a regime change in Venezuela.
Since September, it has launched over 20 strikes on boats, which, it alleges, are smuggling narcotics. At least 80 people have been killed in this offensive. However, the US public and a few Republicans do not endorse such blatant aggression on false pretexts. A poll conducted between 19 and 21 November showed that 70 per cent of respondents opposed US military action in Venezuela, while 56 per cent believe any military action would have no effect on the amount of drugs entering the US. The new US offensive has wide global implications, as some countries have now suspended or curtailed part of their intelligence sharing with the US over the boat strikes.
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Adding to the international condemnation, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez recently denounced US military presence in the region, calling it an “exaggerated and aggressive” threat. He went on to “appeal” to the people of the US to stop the “madness.” Colombia has taken a similar stance against the boat strikes and growing US naval presence in the Caribbean. Colombian President Gustavo Petro previously accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump of being “wrong” about the people targeted on the boats. Petro has also argued that the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people. It is no secret that the US has been overseeing a massive military build-up in the region with about 15,000 US troops currently stationed in that area under the guise of fighting “narco-terrorism.” Since early September, Trump has also presided over wanton extrajudicial executions in the Caribbean Sea, repeatedly ordering the bombing of what he claims are drug-trafficking boats.
Apart from violating both international and US law, the strikes have only succeeded in terrorising local fishermen. Against this backdrop, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro brandished a sword, believed to have been used by late military officer Simon Bolivar, who played a key role in securing Venezuela’s independence, at a rally in the country’s capital, Caracas, recently, to ramp up support for his counter-offensive against the US.
He expressed his resolve to defend “every inch of this blessed land from imperialist threat or aggression, no matter where it comes from.” It is a do-or-die situation for him as the US does not recognise his rule. The US Department of State officially designated the Cartel de los Soles, “headed by Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime,” as a “Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).” A statement authored by Rubio—a key figure in the US-Venezuela tensions—said “neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government.” The Trump administration, much like the Biden administration, does not recognise Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
Maduro became President of Venezuela following Hugo Chavez’s death in 2013. He was sworn in for a third term in January, despite widespread concern over the legitimacy of the country’s election results. An avowed anti-war politician, Trump now is weighing the possibility of taking up arms against the Maduro regime, but prior to that, he wants to give hints of a dialogue with Maduro. Asked by reporters if he plans on speaking with Maduro, he nodded, saying he would “do things the easy way” if lives can be saved. But, if it does not yield results, “we have to do it the hard way.” The US military action in the Caribbean Sea with the ulterior aim of effecting a regime change in Venezuela is being justified by Trump and his administration as an inevitable step to curb the flow of drugs into the US. But the President’s approach has drawn plenty of criticism and concern, even from within his own party, since the US under Trump is turning into a rogue state. The last bit that we heard on this issue is Trump on his Truth Social platform, where, on 29 Nov 2025 at 7:43 AM, he wrote: To all airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers. Please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP This above message has confused Caracas as much as it has caught the whole world at a wrong time. No one is clear about Trump’s intent or the meaning of this message.
